Comic book artist Frank Miller will adapt and direct The Spirit, based on comic legend Will Eisner’s classic strip, for Odd Lot Entertainment and Batfilm Productions, reports Variety.

Miller made his helming debut co-directing Sin City — adapted from his graphic novel — with Robert Rodriguez.

The Spirit, which debuted in 1940, tells the story of a masked detective who is believed to be dead. Using a mausoleum as his home base, Eisner’s character fights crime in the dark shadows of Central City, using cunning and ingenious forms of punishment.

DC Comics has reprinted much of the comic series — Eisner’s best-known work — in hardcover form.

Odd Lot bought rights to The Spirit from Eisner, who passed away last year, in 2004. The producers are Del Prete, Pritzker, and Batfilm’s Michael Uslan (Batman Begins).

“I intend to be extremely faithful to the heart and soul of the material, but it won’t be nostalgic. It will be much scarier than people expect,” said Miller.

Miller said he’s putting together a treatment that consists in large part of panels from the “Spirit” strip. Shooting is expected to start in late spring.